Magnetic dart-projecting toy



H. .ZlMMERMAN 2,627,260

Feb. 3, 1953 MAGNETIC DART-PROJECTING TOY Filed April 20, 1950 3i I 9 "TE-.

I Bnnemtor:

HARRY ZIMMERMAN Clttorneg Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC DART-PROJECTING TOY Harry Zimmerman, New York, N. Y.

Application April 20, 1950, Serial No. 156,991

(Cl. ite -27) 2 Claims.

My invention relates to toy pistols or to similar projectile-projecting toys, and one of its objects is to project a dart or projectile of that known type that adheres to a target by magnetic force.

Other objects are to provide the toy with a projector which holds a magnetic dart by magnetic force whereby the dart can be easily and quickly positioned for the shot, that propels the dart toward the target aimed at, and that releases the dart after the propulsion of the latter is completed.

Further objects are to position the dart in the direction of projection in front of the projector whereby the center of gravity of the dart is, in the direction of projection, in line with the projector, thereby to secure straight and central propulsion of the dart, and thereby to improve the accuracy of the aim.

Still other objects are to start movement of the projector suddenly, to provide a releasable catch which stops the projector while tense propelling means urge the projector toward the front, to release this catch by means of a trigger, and to interrupt the forward movement of the projector whereby the projector will separate from the dart which continues the forward movement due to its inertia.

Still further objects are to provide a toy of the described type which simulates a gun or a pistol, to incorporate the projector in this toy, to provide a shooting toy with novel and amusing features, and to obtain all these results with simple and inexpensive means.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of my invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of an illustrative embodiment of my invention, this cross-section being taken along a central vertical plane passing through the line l-l in Fig. 2, the movable parts of the embodiment being represented in non-sectional side view.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section taken alon the broken line 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a broken off front portion of the same embodiment represented on a smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2, of a target and of magnetic darts in various phases of flight.

The embodiment shown in the drawing comprises a body 3 which may be held by a hand and is stationary during the dart-projecting operation. Preferably, this body has a shape simulating a pistol provided with a handle 4, a barrel 5, a trigger protector 5 and sight projections 1 and 8. The body 3 forms a housing for movable elements of the embodiment and may be made of parts which are united after these movable elements have been assembled.

A projector 9 of preferably elongated cylindrical shape slidable in a channel of the housing 3 thereby, is guided in axial direction. This channel extends through the barrel 5 and is open at its front end. The projector 9 may project slightly beyond the open barrel end when the projector is in its shown innermost position. In its outermost position shown in Fig. 3 in dotted lines, the projector projects farther to the front. A member I I made of magnetically susceptible ma-. terial, for example, of iron forms the front end of the projector and is aifixed to the remaining projector body. Preferably the member I I is constituted by a thin disk positioned co-axially with the remaining projector body across its front and has a front surface extending perpendicularly to the axis of the projector.

The projector 9 is urged from its innermost/to its outermost position bya coiled spring I2 positioned in the housing 3. One end of this spring is affixedto the projector 51, for example, by tightly inserting one or several terminal windings of the spring in a circular recess iii of the projector which recess is positioned near the inner end of the projector. The other end of the spring 12 is affixed to the housing, for example, by w'edging one or several terminal windings between ribs 14 and I5 provided in the housing. In the shown position, the spring is axially compressed, tense and presses the projector in axial direction toward the front.

A catch prevents the projector from following the pressure of the spring l2. This catch comprises a stop member [6 and a lever IT. The member it may be constituted by a piece of sheet metal having a horizontal opening near its front end through which a pin it passes which crosses the inner space of the housing 3. The member [6 is turnable about this pin and may have an angularly bent upper rim I9. Two lugs 2| and 22 form projections of this members rear end, are bent laterally and are spaced from each other. The upper lug 2| has a front side abutting the rim l9 and has a rear side contacting a vertical surface 23 of the projector 9. The surface 23 forms the rear end of a circular recess 25 formed by a tapering portion 25 of the projector and entered by the upper portion of the member Hi.

The lever I1 is turnable about a pin 26 crossing the inner space of the housing 3 and has an arm 21 projecting through the gap between the lugs 21 and 22 whereby this lever engages the stop member 16. Laterally, the arm 2? slides along a rib or projection 28 of the housing.

A flat spring 29 has an end secured in a recess 30 of a stationary bar 3| crossing the inner space of the housing, overlies the pin 26 and has another end positioned under and pressing against a lateral projection 32 of the lever [1 whereby the spring 29 urges the arm 27 and, hence, the stop member l6 upwardly. A trigger 33 forms another arm of the lever I1 and permits overcoming of the urge of the spring 29 and withdrawal of the member l6 from the stopping position. I

The described toy is adapted for projecting a dart of known type having a disk-shaped part 34 made of magnetic material and having feathers 35 or similar guiding means of very little weight affixed to the disk 34. Fig 3 shows such a dart 36 positioned for being projected toward a target 3! which may be held in upright position by a support 38. In this position, the magnetic disk 34 of the dart 36 contacts the member II co-axially and adheres to the latter by magnetismb The shown embodiment operates as follows:

A dart is placed in front of the member H as shown at 36 and the pistol is aimed at the target. Then the trigger 33 is pulled in usual manner. Thereby the stop memebr I6 is withdrawn from the recess 24 and the spring i2 propels the projector 9 and the dart to the front. After the spring has fully expanded, the projector has reached the position shown in Fig. 3 in dotted lines. In this position, the projector is stopped by the spring, the outward movement of the projector being limited by its connection with the spring.

When the projector stops in this manner, the

dart separates from the projector and continues moving ahead under the influence of its inertiav Immediately after the separation from the projector, the air resistance acting on the feathers 35 turns the dart in the direction of the arrow 39. The dart 4| is just performing this turning movement. When the dart has turned about one hundred and eighty degrees, it has the position shown at 42, the heavy disk 34 forming the front.

During the continued flight, the dart is stabilized in the direction of the arro 53 by the feather tail 35. Finally, the darts magnetic disk 32 hits the target 37 and is held on the latter by magnetism.

The pistol maybe set for another shot by pushing the projector 9 inwardly until the edge of the surface 23 snaps over the stop member Thereby the spring 12 is compressed, and theentire device is again in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to the particular embodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative,

4 l and that my invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention as it is obvious that the particular embodiment shown and described i only one of end from said open end of the channel in all positions of the projector, at least said one end of the projector being formed of magnetically susceptible material for adherence of the magnetized head of the dart thereto, resilient means for yieldably urging said projector to an extended position and for resisting further extension of the projector from saidchannel, and means for releasably retaining said projector in a retracted position substantially enclosed within said channel against the force of ,said resilient means.

2. A toy for projecting a dart having a magnetized head against a target of magnetically susceptible material; said toy comprising a body having a guide channel formed therein and opening at one end, an elongated projector axially guided in said channel and dimensioned to project at one end from said open end of the channel in all positions of the projector, at least said 7 one end of the projector being formed of magnetically susceptible material for adherence of the magnetized head of the dart thereto, a coil spring in said channel between the other end of said projector and the adjacent closed end of the channel, said spring being fixed at its respective ends'to said projector and said body for yieldably urging said projector to an extended position and for resisting further extension of the projector from said channel, and means for releasably retaining said projector in a retracted position substantially enclosed within said channel against the force of said spring.

HARRY ZIMMERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 466,574 Porter Jan. 5, 1892 542,212 Tenney July 2, 1895 723,227 Anthony Mar. 24, 1903 937,078 Laudermilch Oct. 19, 1909 1,029,469 Schrodel June 11, 1912 1,852,401 DeCamps Apr. 5, 1932 2,093,659 Kahler Sept. 21, 1937 2,477,531 Volman July 26, 1949 

